Y-Labeled Resin Microsphere Spills: A Pilot Study to Determine Efficient Cleanup Practices.

Y-labeled resin microspheres (RMs) are selective internal radiation therapy agents encased in microscopic resin spheres and then suspended in water for injection. The Y-RM package insert includes a recommended cleanup procedure for contamination spills. However, after a local hospital recently experienced a clinical incident, we explored the efficiency of the recommended cleanup procedure.

Production of [N]ammonia from [C]methanol on a 7.5 MeV cyclotron using C(p, n)N reaction: Detection of myocardial infarction in a mouse model.

[N]Ammonia is commonly produced using O(p, α)N reaction but one of the limiting factor of this reaction is the relatively small nuclear cross-section at proton energies of <10 MeV. An alternative production method using C(p, n)N reaction, which has a higher nuclear cross-section at low proton energies, is more suitable for a preclinical PET imaging facility equipped with a <10 MeV cyclotron. Here, we report a novel method to produce [N]ammonia from [C]methanol for preclinical use on a 7.

Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of gallium-68-labeled glycine and hippurate conjugates for positron emission tomography renography.

The objective of this study was to evaluate four new (68) Ga-labeled 1,4,7,10-cyclododeca-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA)/1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid derived (NODAGA)-glycine/hippurate conjugates and select a lead candidate for potential application in positron emission tomography (PET) renography. The non-metallated conjugates were synthesized by a solid phase peptide synthesis method. The (68) Ga labeling was achieved by reacting an excess of the non-metallated conjugate with (68) GaCl4 (-) at pH -4.

Assessment of 99mTc-succimer residual activity using inert nonreactive syringes.

Unlabelled: It has been widely reported that (99m)Tc-succimer adsorbs to plastic syringes significantly (up to 50%), often resulting in a lower administered dose than intended or inaccurate dosing. This adsorption rate is especially problematic in the pediatric population. To improve (99m)Tc-succimer dosing, we compared the adsorption of (99m)Tc-succimer with 2 types of syringes: silicone-coated syringes with nonlatex rubber on the plunger and inert nonreactive syringes with no silicone coating and no rubber on the plunger.

Assessing the stability of common radiopharmaceuticals compounded and utilized outside package insert guidelines.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of radiopharmaceuticals compounded using activities and expiration times in excess of manufacturers' recommendations. Proof of the compounded sterile preparation quality when compounding outside of manufacturers' recommendations has become a key component of maintaining compliance with the guidelines set forth in United States Pharmacopeia General Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding-Sterile Preparations, originally released in 2008. Seven commercial nuclear pharmacies compounded various radiopharmaceuticals for patient use as part of daily pharmacy protocol.

Establishing benchmark rates of microbial and bacterial endotoxin contamination for radiopharmaceuticals compounded in commercial nuclear pharmacy settings.

The objective of this study was to establish benchmark rates for microbial and bacterial endotoxin contamination rates for radiopharmaceutical preparations compounded in commercial nuclear pharmacies. Radiopharmaceutical samples were obtained between November 2006 and June 2010 from seven commercial nuclear pharmacies. Preparations were compounded per the compounding protocols of each radiopharmacy, and each kit was used for unit-dose dispensing of patient-specific doses.

Evaluation of 99mTc-succimer dosing in pediatric patients.

Unlabelled: Balancing image quality with radiation dose is a goal with every diagnostic procedure requiring radiation. Our institution compared the dosing of (99m)Tc-labeled succimer, commonly referred to as dimercaptosuccinic acid ((99m)Tc-DMSA), to pediatric patients using 2 methods of calculation, body surface area (BSA, the method we used from 2009 to 2010) and body weight (BW, the method we used in 2011).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a 230-bed inpatient, tertiary-care academic pediatric hospital to obtain objective data on patients under the age of 17 y who received a renal nuclear medicine procedure with (99m)Tc-DMSA using a 300,000-count parallel image and four 150,000-count pinhole images.

Compounding & dispensing errors before and after implementing barcode technology in a nuclear pharmacy.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the incidence of compounding and dispensing errors changed significantly in a nuclear pharmacy after the pharmacy adopted a barcode assistance system. Nuclear pharmacy dispensing errors are extremely low compared to that of busy traditional pharmacies, but there is no data available describing the use of bar-coding assistance on the rate of dispensing errors in nuclear pharmacy. A retrospective review of dispensing errors pre-barcode assistance system implementation (2001 through 2004) and post-barcode assistance system implementation (February 2005 through 2009) was conducted using data from a nuclear pharmacy that dispenses approximately 500 prescriptions per day to nuclear medicine clinics and hospitals.

Establishing a threshold for 131I bioassay in nuclear medicine personnel.

Since the late 1970's, manufacturers in nuclear medicine have reformulated the I solution to reduce the volatility of the iodine. There has also been an increase in use of the iodide in encapsulated form. Per the requirement of the current U.